My blog used to be called Nappy Valley. But now I've moved to the dizzy heights of Crystal Palace (via a spell as an expat on Long Island, New York). And my Littleboys are long out of nappies.

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

Overheard on the train.....

I was travelling on the Long Island Rail Road earlier today, and overheard the following, between two women who, from the sounds of their conversation worked in the media. One of them was about to go on a business trip to England.

Woman 1: You know, the weather there in February will probably be the same as it is in August.

Woman 2: What do you mean?

Woman 1: Well, cold. I mean, I was there 20 years ago in August and I needed a sweater!

Woman 2 (confidently): Oh no, it's not at all like that now. It's hot in August.

Woman 1: Wow. You mean, like it's changed?

Woman 2: Yes, it's definitely changed - the summers are hot now. It's the weather at this time of year that will be vile - really, like, blustery.

Woman 1: That's really interesting.

It was so tempting to join in and point out that no, Britain has not undergone a climatic change of epic proportions hitherto unreported in the rest of the world. And the whole point about the British weather is that it's unpredictable.

What is more, on an unusually nasty New York winter day (freezing rain mixing with snow and slush and making for what the weather forecasters call a 'mucky commute') I thought it was a bit rich to call our February drizzle vile........

I've learned when I hear comments like that NOT to butt in. They always think they know better than me. And really, I haven't lived full time in the UK for 25 years, so really, they could be right . . . or not.

when i left england in august last year it was flippin cold and i had dragged out a winter coat to get me down the co op. but i love the weather in england. you never know what you're going to get from one week to the next.

I think Tanya probably hit the nail on the head - I wouldn't have been able to restrain myself from making that phone call and trying to sound as much like the queen as possible (although perhaps in a slighter lower-pitched voice...)

About Me

I'm a business journalist, wife to The Doctor and mother to two boys. I left London's 'Nappy Valley' in 2009 for a four year sojourn in New York. Now I'm back in South London, settling into British life once again and trying not to miss the yellow schoolbus too much as I grapple with the school run.